Chapter Nine: She-Ra, Princess of the Universe

"By order of Director Nick Fury, I'm here to protect you, Mr. Yang Xin," Hill announced, standing upright and saluting. At the same time, she and Natasha exchanged a subtle glance.

Originally, Maria Hill had intended to conceal her identity, infiltrating Yang Xin's side as a servant or a butler. But to her surprise, her identity was exposed by Yang Xin the moment they met. Seeing there was no point in hiding, Hill chose to come into the open.

The instant Yang Xin saw Hill, the Treasure Distribution System in his mind displayed a new item—a sword named the Sword of Hope. The Sword of Hope came from "She-Ra: Princess of the Universe." With it, one could communicate with any animal and heal any disease. By shouting, "For the honor of Grayskull, I am She-Ra!" one would transform into the Princess of the Universe. It even came with a flying steed, Swift Wind.

"Mission: Find the most suitable user for the Sword of Hope. Requirements: a tough, iron-willed female warrior. Time limit: three minutes."

"Damn, is there any need to search? Isn't the answer right here in front of me—Agent Maria Hill..." Hill's arrival was both suspiciously well-timed and clearly deliberate. Yang Xin instantly guessed her purpose. As the host of the Treasure Distribution System, he had already figured out its pattern. Nick Fury, Natasha, Coulson, and the rest had no idea about the system's existence. They could only make rough guesses about Yang Xin's abilities.

The first time Yang Xin appeared, he encountered Coulson, who then received the Dinosaur Express and became a Time Warrior—though he was launched into action like a human cannonball. Later, he met Black Widow Natasha, who gained the Flower Key, a small cosmos, and a star-powered inheritance—though the Flower Key could only be used once and only in sunlight. Then Nick Fury arrived and received a Sharingan, which quickly evolved from single tomoe to the first stage of the Eternal Mangekyo—though in only one eye, it could unleash the Sharingan's full power. Finally, when Melinda appeared, she received a Time Ship. Though it had no offensive abilities, it was a masterful tool for surveillance and intelligence gathering. As long as it was powered, it could travel through the river of time, making no secret safe from its probes.

Every time Yang Xin met someone, he handed out a great treasure. Anyone could see this simple pattern. So, Maria Hill came. It was an overt test.

Why send Hill and not Hawkeye? Yang Xin understood immediately: the honey trap. Beautiful women always received special treatment—unless Yang Xin swung the other way.

"Hill, I have a great treasure here. Would you like to see it?" Yang Xin put on a deliberately lecherous expression, gesturing toward a certain part of his body.

Hill's eyes lit up.

Yang Xin's gaze darkened. Clearly, before coming here, Nick Fury—now with the power of the Uchiha—had briefed Hill thoroughly.

Off to the side, Natasha broke into a relieved smile and inwardly cheered, "I guessed right!"

"I'm ready," Hill said, her face alight with anticipation.

After Coulson returned to SHIELD headquarters and bragged about his fortune, Hill couldn't help but feel envious.

They were all supposed to be elite agents without superpowers, yet Coulson had been launched out of a human cannon and become a Time Warrior, a superhero. She couldn't help but feel irritated at the thought.

As a top agent, Hill knew there was no shortage of superpowered people in the world. To say she didn't envy them would be a lie. Now, she'd finally met someone who threw out treasures like confetti. Of course she wanted to see what he had.

Hill remembered clearly that when Director Fury first described Yang Xin to her, she hadn't believed a word. But when Melinda produced the Time Ship, and Fury hypnotized her on the spot with his Sharingan, she rushed straight to Yang's villa.

"Romanoff, Natasha, wipe that look of schadenfreude off your face. In one minute, bring me a horse, or Hill's treasure will be gone," Yang Xin threatened viciously.

"Yes, sir!" Natasha replied with an exaggerated salute and hurried outside.

SHIELD truly lived up to its reputation. In just thirty seconds, a horse stood on the villa's lawn.

"Don't just leave the horse out there. Do you want the whole world to know Hill's here for my treasure?"

Natasha quickly led the horse inside, then held out her hand. "In exchange?"

"What?" Yang Xin was puzzled.

"Your dimensional pocket. Director Fury said we can't just take your things for nothing. We'll trade munitions and supplies, at the same rate you asked for the first time."

"How much are you offering?" Yang Xin was rather pleased. At least Nick Fury, the Uchiha, had some sense—not just taking things by force, but offering something in return.

But Fury wasn't being as shrewd as Yang Xin imagined. He was afraid. After returning to SHIELD, Fury immediately tested the Sharingan and the Human Cannon's power—and was shocked.

It was a leap to godhood. Think back to Captain America, who had to risk life and limb to become history's first artificial super soldier. Now, with just one sentence—"I have a great treasure, do you want to see it?"—anyone could become superhuman.

Since Yang Xin could bestow such gifts so easily, Fury feared he could also take them away just as effortlessly. So Fury decided to play it safe and trade, thinking, if Yang Xin wasn't satisfied, he could always up the offer.

Yang Xin was quite satisfied. From the list Natasha handed over, he saw Fury's sincerity. The quantity was the same, but the quality had improved.

All the weapons and equipment had been upgraded from World War II-era to Vietnam War-era.

"Come, Hill, let me show you my treasure." With a gesture in the air, the Sword of Hope materialized in Yang Xin's hand. He handed it to Hill.

"Repeat the incantation with me."

"It's not something ridiculous like the Time Ship's chant, is it?" Hill, ever the beauty, looked a bit embarrassed. That idiotic song and silly dance had been mortifying.

"Of course not. Actually, you don't have to recite any incantation to activate the Time Ship," Yang Xin said, face perfectly serious.

"Then why did the Director and Coulson sing and dance like that?"

"Because I wanted them to. Now, do you want my treasure or not?"

"I do!"

"Then repeat after me: For the honor of Grayskull, I am She-Ra!"

"For the honor of Grayskull, I am She-Ra!"

Unlike Yang Xin, who spoke with a forced, gritted tone, Hill recited the words with something close to reverence.

From the sky—or rather, from the universe—a surge of power swept down, gathering in the Sword of Hope in Hill's hand, then coursing into her body.

Thus, Maria Hill, the senior SHIELD agent, transformed into She-Ra, Princess of the Universe. And the ordinary earth horse Natasha had brought in sprouted wings and became Swift Wind, the flying steed.

"Well? Are you satisfied with my treasure?"